Va. Man Accused of Hitting Teen in Face With Pencil Fired From Crossbow

15-year-old boy hit in the face with pencil fired from handheld mini crossbow, sheriff said

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An 18-year-old Virginia man is accused of wounding a teenager with a pencil fired from a crossbow.

Sheriff Brian Hieatt told the Bluefield Daily Telegraph that a 15-year-old boy was shot in the face with a pencil fired from a handheld mini crossbow a home in Springvale on Saturday.

The victim's father called police as he was bringing his son to the hospital, the Bluefield Daily Telegraph reported.

Austin Smith of Tazewell County has been charged with reckless endangerment, a felony.

"This wasn't something that was done intentionally, but done in a manner that he should have known not to do, because it was a weapon," Hiett told the Bluefield Daily Telegraph. "Whether you have a pencil in it or whatever you have in it, it's still [a] dangerous weapon," he said.

The 15-year-old was taken to a hospital for treatment. His condition wasn't known.